Weekly E-mail Update 2-19-17

Weekly E-mail Update 2-19-17

Happy Sunday and a very warm welcome to the new members joining us for this week's email blast! Thank you so much for your commitment to social and environmental justice and your community. We are so happy to have you on board and we can't wait to see you at an upcoming event.

Weekly Events February 20th-26th, 2017

Youth For ChangeA project of The Root Social Justice CenterMonday, February 20th, 2017 from 6pm - 8pm at The Root Social Justice Center (The Whetstone Studio for the Arts, 28 Williams St., Brattleboro, VT, 05301). First Floor. Youth for Change will be hosting a public gathering to write letters and postcards of welcome to Syrian refugees that are arriving in Vermont. The youth have been inspired by other efforts throughout Vermont to extend explicit welcome to war refugees. They feel that these gestures are necessary to counter the perception of nationwide hostility to refugees that has been popularized during the election cycle and it’s aftermath.

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99th Monkee Affinity Group: Mass Rally GatheringWednesday, February 22nd, 2017 at TD Bank (215 Main St, Brattleboro, VT 05301). 3.30pm.We invite you to participate in a mass rally (songs, chants, bring your great signs!) and be a witness to our peaceful, direct action (support us with your loving, no-risk presence).Please show up and take a stand against:•TD’s investments in tar sands, the Keystone XL & DAPL•Trump’s green lighting the Keystone XL & DAPLExpress Your Solidarity with the People of Standing Rock and their courageous stand for their water rights, their sovereignty, and the protection of their homeland. Contact Tim for more information at Bereal@vermontel.net or 802.869.2141.

Living Planet Weekly MeetingFriday, February 24th, 2017 at the Church in Westminster West (for physical address, please contact Caitlin Adair), Westminster, VT. 5pm.We will be hosting Christina Fornaciari of VPIRG, who will update us on environmental bills before the Vermont Legislature this session. For more information, please contact Caitlin Adair at caitlin@sanctuaryvermont.com or 802-387-5779.

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Protest Vigils at TD BankSponsored by Post Oil SolutionsBrattleboroFriday, February 24, 2017 (and every Friday) in front of TD Bank Brattleboro (215 Main St, Brattleboro, VT 05301). Noon-1pm. Signs will be provided. Bellows FallsFriday, February 24, 2017 (and every Friday) in front of the TD Bank Bellows Falls (2 Church St, Bellows Falls, VT 05101). 1pm-2pm. Please bring your own signs.TD is a major investor in Tar Sands. TD helps to fund the Dakota Access Pipeline. The State of Vermont Keeps Most of Our Cash in TD.What You Can You Do (besides attending the vigils):

· If you’re a TD depositor, change banks!

· If you’re a Vermonter, demand that state funds not be deposited with a bank investing in fossil fuels.

Contact your state legislators to support the bills in the House & Senate calling for a commission to explore the possibility of a State Bank. Founded in 2005, Post Oil Solutions is a 501c3 community organizing project in Southeastern Vermont whose mission is to help empower the people of the Central Connecticut River Valley bioregion to develop sustainable, resilient , collaborative, and socially just communities leading to a self- and community-sufficient post petroleum society. For more information please contact info@postoilsolutions.org or call 802.869.2141.

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Local Love Brigade Postcard Makingpresented by the Local Love Brigade and The Dianich GalleryFriday, February 24th, 2017 at The Dianich Gallery (139 Main Street, Brattleboro, VT, 05301). 3pm - 6pm.Be Part of the Local Love Brigade! Come by The Dianich Gallery and make postcards to send out in an avalanche of love to support victims of hate. You'll be part of a movement that has begun to illuminate the power of fierce love. The public is welcome and children, of course, are welcome. The Dianich Gallery is located in the Hooker Dunham Building, 139 Main Street, down the alley and though the glass doors. To find out more and see the heartfelt messages of support that local folks are sending out into the world, join the Local Love Brigade - Vermont Facebook Group.

Healthcare Is A Human Right CampaignSponsored by the Vermont Workers' CenterSaturday, February 25th, 2017, the F.E.E.T Neighborhood (Frost, Elm, Elliot Triangle, Brattleboro, VT, 05301). 10am-2:30pm.We will be canvassing in F.E.E.T. neighborhood about people's experiences with healthcare and their fears and hopes for our healthcare system. Training provided. Canvassing is in pairs and is followed by a debrief.For more information or to sign up please contact Ellen Schwartz at eschwa1@myfairpoint.net or 802-257-4436.

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Talking Across Political Divides: A SkillshareSunday, February 26th, 2017, at the All Souls Unitarian Universalist Church (29 South St., Brattleboro, VT, 05301). 1pm-4pm.All are invited for this three hour skill share. Experiential and interactive activities provide space for attendees to practice strategies for creative, compassionate, and courageous communication across the political divide. Partnering to provide this skill share are: SIT’s Office of Diversity, ACT for Social Justice, 350 Brattleboro (a local group of 350VT), and The Root Social Justice Center. Other sponsors of the event are VBike, Post Oil Solutions, John Woolman College of Active Peace, and the Social & Environmental Action Committee of All Souls Church.Free and open to the public. Light refreshments. Childcare will be provided. We ask that you do not eat or handle any nuts before or during the event and that you please come fragrance free.For more information contact Angela Berkfield, Daniel Quipp, or Kara Hamilton at angelaberkfield@gmail.com, daniel.quipp@gmail.com and hamilt.kar@gmail.com.

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Brattleboro Time Trade's Annual Meeting Sunday, February 26th, 2017 at the Marlboro Grad Center (28 Vernon Street, Brattleboro, VT, 05301), in classroom 2E on the 2nd floor. 12:00pm-3:30 p.m.Current members are encouraged to attend, prospective members are invited! Potluck-stye food at 12:00 p.m. in lieu of our monthly potluck - please bring a dish to share if you can! MORE VOLUNTEERS/HELP NEEDED! Please contact brattleborotimetrade@gmail.com for more information.

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FUTURE UPCOMING EVENTS

Mother Up! Monthly Meet-UpMonday, February 27th, 2017 at the KidsPLAYce (20 Elliot Street, Brattleboro, VT, 05301). 5.30pm-7.30pm. Join in in building solidarity amongst parents by taking action to protect the health and safety of our collective future. Inspired by Black History Month and using the ongoing water crisis in Flint, Michigan as a case study, we'll connect the many ways in which climate justice is intertwined with racial justice. We'll also explore ways we can participate in local, state, and national climate legislation and action. A simple vegetarian meal and childcare for ages 8 and under will be provided. RSVP helpful, but not required. Contact Abby Mnookin for more info at abby@350vt.org.

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Climate Change Café: A Community of Concerned Citizens featuring the Heartful Conversations meeting format. A project of Post Oil Solutions.Tuesday, February 28th, 2017 at the Brooks Memorial Library (224 Main Street, Brattleboro, VT 05301). 6:00pm. Free, light refreshments available. Through the localization movement a better world is not only possible; it’s within our reach. This world begins with people talking and listening to each other. When we have authentic, respectful conversations we strengthen our relationships and advance our understanding of the challenges, opportunities, and solutions before us.Using a format called ‘Heartful Conversations’ Wendy Webber will facilitate a process that has the potential to support connection, to reach across differing perspectives, and inspire something new to emerge. At the end of the evening we will be looking to participants to explore with us if and how this kind of format may be used in an ongoing way to further the intention to bring community, meaning, and purpose to our lives. For further information call 802.869.2141 or email info@postoilsolutions.org.

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Gallery Walk Pop-Up Exhibit to Depict January 21st Women's MarchFriday, March 3rd, 2017. Peter Havens Restaurant (32 Elliot St, Brattleboro, VT 05301). 4pm. Free.Peter Havens Restaurant is sponsoring a community interactive photographic exhibit by Brattleboro Area residents who participated in the January 21st Women's Marches. ANYONE may participate. Please bring a favorite photo or two (any size, any paper) of your “March” to donate to this exhibit, and 2 clothespins per photo. Most of the photos will be displayed on wire lines. Attach a short synopsis of your experience (optional). This exhibit will be hung in Peter Havens’ newest addition to the restaurant at 32 Elliott Street in Brattleboro. The future use of this open space is to accommodate private parties at Peter Havens and to house Jasmine’s Cakes.On March 3rd, we’ll open the door at 4pm to welcome participants and to assist with hanging photographs under designated geographic headings: Brattleboro, Montpelier, Washington, D.C., Greenfield and Boston, MA, etc. Collages, signs, posters and pink hats are also welcome! The exhibit will be taken down on Saturday, March 4th; you may stop in between 1:30-3:30 to retrieve any items you want returned.Come and meet others who may be interested in taking future action, share ideas on how to move forward, and learn about what is already planned locally and nationally. Please stop by to participate or just to view the exhibit. Thank you in advance!Call Ro (802) 380-0284, Priscilla (802) 505-8925 or Louise (802) 258-8874 for more information.

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Brattleboro Time Trade's 3rd Annual Spring Forward ExtravaganzaFriday, March 3rd, 2017 at the Robert H. Gibson River Garden (157 Main Street, Brattleboro, VT, 05301). 5:00pm-8:30pm.Come to the River Garden on Friday March 3rd's Gallery Walk evening for our 3rd Annual Spring Fundraiser and Celebration of Student Art Month in collaboration with the Arts Council of Windham County! We have two great youth bands this year: Nomad vs Setter (NVS) is our headliner and opening for them will be Raspberry Jam.Dosa Kitchen will be serving up yummy food and 10% proceeds will be donated to the Time Trade.Time Trade member and master Herbalist Cindy Hebbard will be offering short consultations, we'll have a collection of Silent Auction Items to bid on, and Bonnyvale Environmental Education Center & Edible Brattleboro are collaborating to offer a cool seed-bomb making activity for springing forward!Bring yourself, your friends, and/or the whole family! Help support the Time Trade and keep us up and running in 2017!VOLUNTEERS/HELP NEEDED!brattleborotimetrade@gmail.com

Women Under Capitalism 4 Week Study Grouppresented by Brattleboro SolidarityMondays, March 6th, March 13th, March 20th, March 27th at the Putney Public Library (55 Main St, Putney, VT 05346). 6pm-8pm.Hello All ~ We are excited to start our new 4 week study group: Women Under Capitalism. Mondays in March, 6-8pm atPutney Public Library. Dinner will be provided. Women’s lives are under attack - from health to reproductive rights, violence, harassment, and overall sexism, women in the U.S. have much to fight for. The derogatory rhetoric from the pre and post Trump election cycle threatened many and propelled people across the globe to join on January 21st to rally against bigotry and stand up for human rights. The Women’s March on Washington, the day after inauguration, was to send a message in large part that women’s rights are human rights. It was to become the largest rally in U.S. history, joined by 5 million worldwide to march and speak out. The subordination of women is not new - in fact, throughout U.S. history violence against women has benefited those in power and is a necessary component to the functioning of capitalism. Brattleboro Solidarity is hosting a 4 week study group to explore how capitalism affects women’s lives and how we can work to fight back.This is an open and free study group. We ask that participants commit to all 4 Mondays:March 6thMarch 13thMarch 20thMarch 27th ****Please email us at brattleborosolidarity@gmail.com to sign up. Readings will be sent out by February 27th.FACEBOOK EVENT

Thank you, once again, for your unwavering commitment to your neighbors and community. You are appreciated more than you know! Have a wonderful week and we look forward to seeing you at an upcoming event.